Billing system for verifying billing information

Abstract

A billing system for accurately verifying billing information provided by a party for purposes of engaging the party as a client and assuring that predetermined charges are properly authorized by the client includes a computer based device which includes operating software, billing and verification software operably associated therewith. The billing and verification software is operably associated with a telephone service provider database, wherein the telephone service provider database includes a data listing of telephone numbers each having an associated street address and party name, and the billing and verification software is capable of receiving billing information data which is provided by the party and comparing the provided billing information data with the data listing of telephone numbers, addresses and names and generating a signal indicative of one of confirming and not confirming provided billing information data. A method employing the same is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A billing system for accurately verifying billing information provided by a party for purposes of engaging the party as a client and assuring that predetermined charges are properly authorized by the client, which includes: 
 a computer based device which includes operating software, billing and verification software operably associated therewith, and data input device wherein said billing and verification software is operably associated with one of a telephone service provider database and a credit service provider database, wherein said service provider database includes a data listing of telephone numbers each having an associated street address and party name, and said billing and verification software is capable of receiving billing information data which is one of orally and written provided by the party through said input device and comparing said provided billing information data with said data listing of telephone numbers, addresses and names of said service provider database and generating a signal indicative of one of confirming and not confirming provided billing information data.    
     
     
         2 . The billing system of  claim 1 , wherein said billing and verification software authorizes a predetermined type of charge to be made by the part using the provided billing information data upon confirming said billing information data.  
     
     
         3 . The billing system of  claim 2 , wherein said data listing of telephone numbers is characterized as a data listing of telephone numbers, names, and addresses having an established: account with a predetermined telephone service provider.  
     
     
         4 . The billing system of  claim 3 , wherein said billing and verification software is equipped to bill said charge of said predetermined type through said established account for such party.  
     
     
         5 . The billing system of  claim 4 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a telephone system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue telephone charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         6 . The billing system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a telephone system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue telephone charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         7 . The billing system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a television system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue television charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         8 . The billing system of  claim 4 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a television system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue television charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         9 . The billing system of  claim 1 , wherein said billing and verification software sends a signal to employ an alternative billing mechanism upon not confirming said billing information data.  
     
     
         10 . A method of billing and verifying billing information provided by a party for purposes of engaging the party as a client and assuring that predetermined charges are properly authorized by the client, which includes the steps of: 
 entering one of orally and written provided billing information as billing information data through a data input device of a computer based device including operating software, and billing and verification software operably associated therewith, wherein said billing and verification software is operably associated with one of a telephone service provider database and a credit service provider database, wherein said service provider database includes a data listing of telephone numbers each having an associated street address and party name;    employing said billing and verification software to receive said billing information data and to compare said provided billing information data with said data listing of telephone numbers, addresses and names of said service provider database; and    further employing said billing and verification software to generate a signal indicative of one of confirming and not confirming provided billing information data.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , which further includes employing said billing and verification software to authorize a predetermined type of charge to be made by the party using the provided billing information data upon confirming said billing information data.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said data listing of telephone numbers is characterized as a data listing of telephone numbers, names, and addresses having an established account with a predetermined telephone service provider.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said billing and verification software bills said charge of said predetermined type through said established account for such party.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said billing and verification software sends a signal to employ an alternative billing mechanism upon not confirming said billing information data.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a telephone system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue telephone charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a telephone system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue telephone charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a television system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue television charges as said predetermined type of charge.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said computer based device is employed at a hospital and operably connected to a television system at said hospital in a manner to permit said billing and verification software to accrue television charges as said predetermined type of charge.